News

Thursday October 6, 2005

In Good Company

Roy Glauber, a 2005 Nobel Prize winner in physics, and Joe Haus, UD's electro-optics program chair have research ties.

Joe Haus, director of the University of Dayton's electro-optics program, said 2005 Nobel Prize winner in physics Roy Glauber "should have received it 30 years ago" and described him as "a person of great intellect" and "approachable and down to earth."

Haus should know, as they published six papers together from 1979-1986.

Glauber, a Harvard physics professor, won one-half of the Nobel Prize for developing a theoretical basis for how lasers work and interact with matter. He and Haus met through Haus' mentor, Fritz Haake, at the University of Essen in Germany.

"Fritz Haake told me to write the first draft of a paper," Haus said. "He looked at it, rewrote it and then sent me off to Harvard to work with Roy Glauber. Glauber and I completely rewrote the paper again. It was quite an experience. I wish I could be as clear about approaching a problem as he is. Each line in the manuscript had its place. Journal referees would comment on what a pleasure it was to read his work."

Haus recounted a story when Glauber's talk was tape recorded. When Haus and others transcribed Glauber's tape, they were amazed how little editing needed to be done because Glauber spoke in perfectly formed sentences.

Haus said he is grateful for Glauber's role in his career.

"I probably wouldn't have risen above the noise level in applying for positions if it were not for Roy," Haus said. "He helped me learn a new quantum optics field and introduced me to the international community."

UD's electro-optics graduate program, which began in 1983, is one of only seven electro-optics programs in the nation. Since 2003, the program has been awarded nearly $3 million by Ohio's Third Frontier program.